Arizona To Eugene (Portland, Phoenix, Estacada: housing, rent, work)

[LVGAZ]

Hello
we are a family of 3 - teenage son and middle age parents - we have been pursuing moving to Boise Idaho HOWEVER friends of ours told us to look at Eugene - for quaintness, friendly people, university town, outdoor, arts, music.. (she grew up there)
So my question is - she left 15 yrs ago - it is still all of this - we are music lovers, arts, farmers markets, small boutique shopper, and love bistros, cafes, and small restaurants. we like "alive" downtown cores - where people mingle, markets, etc.
is it affordable to live there - homes?
Any information is appreciated
thank you so much

[BLAZER PROPHET]

All I ask is that you root for the Oregon Ducks.

[bobmulk]

I would say that Eugene has all of that. However, the downtown is in a state of renewal. City fathers are working to improve it. There are spots that are undesirable, however there are others that are great. I suppose that's true of most downtowns. Since you were planning on leaving a sunny area for a sunny area, don't discount the affect that rain and clouds might have on you. It does NOT rain nine months out of the year and it's NOT gray nine months out of the year. While it's true that we can get clouds or rain at any time, the dreariest months tend to be December/January or January/February. Global warming seems to be bringing spring to us earlier and earlier.

Good luck.

[kagicre]

We live since September 2007 in Portland and it is now April 2008 and I have never seen so much rain and gray clouds in my life - and I am German, so the weather is kind of similar to the area I lived in (Cologne). But since February I started to get more and more depressed due to rain, rain, rain and gray, gray clouds.
The nature is magnificent around here, we went on hikes around Estacada, but because of the mud and the rain, we don't go at the moment. We also have a Labrador-mix girl and she loves it here. She doesn't care about the weather much.
So at the moment I just looking forward to some dry weather, hopefully soon
Who said the spring is coming earlier and earlier due to the global warming? Hmm, must have been before I came to this beautiful, but wet state.

[JOhn Crider]

Eugene has changed a LOT in 15 years. The migration of Californians has "upscaled" the city quite a bit. In 1990 Eugene was a quiet, hippy, college town where you could stand in the middle of the main downtown roads at noon without worrying about cars, and you could buy a house for $60,000.

All that has changed. Car traffic is now just like most cities of 100,000 - with rush hours and road rage. The same house you could buy for $60K is now costing $250K.

On the plus side, the upscale trend has brought dozens of superb restaurants, bistros and higher-end shopping to Eugene (all with a higher price-tag of course). And the old traditions of Saturday Market, farmers market, committment to diversity, ecological awareness, love of the arts all are as strong as ever.

In short, Eugene has become more sophisticated and expensive, but still retains the charm and value that it did 15 years ago. If you can afford to live there it is one of the best places to live.

[WorkinStiff]

The Housing market here in Eugene has started to collapse due to the credit problems effecting most of the country now...That house that was 250K six months ago could probably be had for 220K now & the prices are still falling..Hang on to yer money & rent..We haven't reached bottom yet..The influx of Californians coming in with huge downs has slowed to a trickle...http://portlandhousingblogspot.com/

[Kosiima]

Originally Posted by LVGAZ

Hello
we are a family of 3 - teenage son and middle age parents - we have been pursuing moving to Boise Idaho HOWEVER friends of ours told us to look at Eugene - for quaintness, friendly people, university town, outdoor, arts, music.. (she grew up there)
So my question is - she left 15 yrs ago - it is still all of this - we are music lovers, arts, farmers markets, small boutique shopper, and love bistros, cafes, and small restaurants. we like "alive" downtown cores - where people mingle, markets, etc.
is it affordable to live there - homes?
Any information is appreciated:D:D
thank you so much

I would agree with what most of the other posters said. Oregon, to me, is rather hippie, but there's a good share of rednecks as well. I moved here to Arizona from Oregon, and I miss it there all the time. The scenery is gorgeous, and I love the countryside, which is absent here. I hated the humidity, but it was still much lovelier than the Phoenix area.